Project Run & Play: Love Is in the Air

 
This week’s theme at Project Run & Play is “Love is in the Air”, and I was excited to sew something for my granddaughter, Katie, again this week!  I’ve had this Chickadee interlock and the coordinating Hearts hoarded in my stash for years, and I’m so glad that I finally dug them out and used them.  They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day, aren’t they?
 
 
I used the laptee from my Wee Tot Collection as the base for this little dress.  My time was really limited this week because of some other exciting projects that I have in the works.  (Be sure to check back here on Friday for a new tutorial and an opportunity to use your sewing talents to give to children in need!)  With only one afternoon to sew, I knew I needed to grab a pattern that I not only know really well, but also one that goes together really fast.  I think it’s so important to have a handful of patterns that fall into that category.  For me, all of those patterns are sewn with knit fabrics.  (I can sew a Charlie Tee from cutting to finish in less than an hour every time.)
 
 
My modifications give this dress some great character, and they actually saved me even more time!  The only time this dress touched the sewing machine was when I topstitched the neckline.  Everything else was done on the serger.  I trimmed a bit off of the sleeve and added a band to finish it off.  To give the body of the dress a little poofiness, I cut it into an A-line and finished the bottom off with a band several inches shorter than the width of the bottom edge.
 
I think the bow might be the one thing that makes this whole outfit, and it’s the first bow that I’ve ever made!  It’s just a couple of simple loops of fabric with several pieces of fabric pulled through the smaller loop to make a “bow”.  The button was a last minute addition because I didn’t like that the bow part kept sliding and exposing the seam.  All of the edges were left raw and just tucked under.
 
 
Katie seems to really like the chickadees.
 
 
See! There’s a smile!